Kef Blade 1 meta disappointed

[Snafu]

The only place I could find to audition the Kef Blade 1 meta was Magnolia. "snip"

What kind of amp and source where they running Blades with?

 

[Frank Dernie]

As for serious audiophiles looking for high end speaker in that price range, The blades will not be on their list.

That would be a bit stupid of them, but their loss.

My local dealer had them available for demo along with Magico, Serblin, Sonus Faber, Martin Logan and Wilson and it is true quite a few people who think SQ is proportional to price and BS probably find the Blades low budget in there.

I don't like the look, though understand the acoustic benefits.

 

[Goldenear]

I was not talking about price alone. That is their flagship for advertising to say they are still in the hi fi market. The Blades represent very little on their bottom line. As for serious audiophiles looking for high end speaker in that price range, The blades will not be on their list.

I think most folks would strongly disagree with that statement. I did find a reviewer comparing the goldenear 1R with the Blades as he had both for review and his opinion was the Goldenears have a wider, deeper soundstage, more impact and deeper bass versus the Blades which were more focused, slightly clearer and sounded more powerful in the bass. Both are A rated by stereophile. For the price difference, I would want the Blades to beat the Tritons in all categories as well as being a beautiful modern sculpture. There are several new pairs available for $20k currently.

 

[Goldenear]

What kind of amp and source where they running Blades with?

Mark levenson amp and preamp with 150watts into 8 ohms. I doubt more power would make them image dramatically more.

 

[Purité Audio]

I think most folks would strongly disagree with that statement. I did find a reviewer comparing the goldenear 1R with the Blades as he had both for review and his opinion was the Goldenears have a wider, deeper soundstage, more impact and deeper bass versus the Blades which were more focused, slightly clearer and sounded more powerful in the bass. Both are A rated by stereophile. For the price difference, I would want the Blades to beat the Tritons in all categories as well as being a beautiful modern sculpture. There are several new pairs available for $20k currently.

If you want a really valid comparison you need to hear both side by side in your own place.
Keith

 

[MarcT]

Best Buy is basically an “appliance store” that has a bit of everything. The Magnolia Room has their “high end” stuff. The sales folks are not in any way “knowledgeable”, in my experience, about proper setup, the products, and even how to get a combination of sources - amps - speakers - subs selected. Speakers are set up in rows on various walls. Home audition means buying the speakers, taking them home, evaluating, then returning them within the return period - which I think is 14 days. The only advantage over Crutchfield and Music Direct - both mail order with 60 days returns - is the ability to touch the product first and avoid return shipping charges. The high end stereo shops of old with demo units to send home are long gone except for large cities.

If you are a Best Buy Totaltech member you get a longer return period. Another advantage of Best Buy is the option of in-store returns, which is great if you happen to live near a BB location.

 

[Thomas Savage]

The blade is the best mass produced engineering focused speaker in the world , is it not ?

What's wrong with it ?

KEF are hero's.

Did I miss something, I am quite drunk .

 

[Count Arthur]

Cheers!

 

[Snafu]

Mark levenson amp and preamp with 150watts into 8 ohms. I doubt more power would make them image dramatically more.

Thanks, I guess with those it should sound at least so good that it doesn't sound "wrong".

 

[GXAlan]

Magnolia was a high-end, small chain in our area. Bestbuy bought them, only to proceed to close down all of their stores and create these "Magnolia" corners in their stores. Every time I go there, there is hardly any staff. Stuff is just thrown around. The old Magnolia stores were quite nice.

The old Magnolia stores even had in-house repair technicians. They were great and knowledgeable. But if you look at the other “small chain” Tweeter, that went out of business, I don’t know if Magnolia Hi-Fi would have survived. The Magnolia Home Theater inside of Best Buy has stocked McIntosh, Mark Levinson, and even Genelec at times but there is a lot store to store variability.

 

[Theta]

The blade is the best mass produced engendering focused speaker in the world , is it not ?

What's wrong with it ?

KEF are hero's.

Did I miss something, I am quite drunk .

You missed. something.

 

[MattHooper]

As for serious audiophiles looking for high end speaker in that price range, The blades will not be on their list.

Ridiculous statement.

 

[HalSF]

My impression is that this thread is about a piss-poor inadequate audio retail space, not the KEF Blade 1, and it seems less than honest to target the speaker in the thread title rather than a Best Buy product demo fail.

 

[MaxBuck]

I think most folks would strongly disagree with that statement. I did find a reviewer comparing the goldenear 1R with the Blades as he had both for review and his opinion was the Goldenears have a wider, deeper soundstage, more impact and deeper bass versus the Blades which were more focused, slightly clearer and sounded more powerful in the bass. Both are A rated by stereophile. For the price difference, I would want the Blades to beat the Tritons in all categories as well as being a beautiful modern sculpture. There are several new pairs available for $20k currently.

I have never liked Goldenear speakers, at whatever price point. The top end Tritons don't appeal to me. But I can't argue with their virtues. For those who really like them, they offer good value.

 

[MaxBuck]

... for serious audiophiles looking for high end speaker in that price range, The blades will not be on their list.

I agree that, for serious "audiophiles," they might not be. But for those looking for true high fidelity, they are an important and valid option regardless of budget.

 

[Theta]

Ridiculous statement.

You have over 9000 posts, I don't agree with lots, but because of the basic politeness policy encouraged on this forum, I wont comment on the numbers which I view as "ridiculous".

 

[BeeKay]

C'mon - it's Sunday. Everybody be ... nice?

 

[Sokel]

My impression is that this thread is about a piss-poor inadequate audio retail space, not the KEF Blade 1, and it seems less than honest to target the speaker in the thread title rather than a Best Buy product demo fail.

It's useful to point out the room significance sometimes.
Even if a short of click-bait title as this is the reason.

Even the best speaker can suffer.
My take of the Blade apart of the bad room and placement that made my experience lukewarm, was the lack of impact (the mid-bassy one, to the chest) no matter the SPL.
Same sized rooms with a little smaller speakers (maybe worst than the blade) had enough. Impact is of the qualities one can't go wrong, it's physical.

 

[Purité Audio]

Poor imaging is not a quality I recognise from the coax designs that I have here,
Keith

 

[thewas]

As for serious audiophiles looking for high end speaker in that price range, The blades will not be on their list.

It depends on the definition of "serious audiophiles", I guess you mean such with fat cables and cable lifters and yes, such have "true golden ears" and would never buy any mainstream audio devices with great measurements like most of us ASR members "which just look at measurements and only listen to sine sweeps" as they better know that such "simply aren't musical".